Five News

I haven't seen the broadcast in 16F16 yet - though I'd be surprised if they were mad enough to run a 4:3 studio and ARC the output.

It looked to me as if Kirsty's lighting, camera racking etc. were heavily US influenced (soft and soggy, but you don't see the wrinkles...) but without that little bit of sparkle that the best US lighting often compensates with.

I was pretty disappointed with the lighting and camera balancing to be honest - it certainly didn't have the "sparkle" of lots of money hitting the screen - instead it looked a bit soft, flat and the flesh tones were very cold.

One of the reasons the OB may have looked sharper is that it is probably lit in a far more "UK standard", and simpler way - with a basic key and fill (doubt there was backlight) manner, giving decent facial "modelling", and the camera is also likely not to have any "skin detail" or other "talent friendly" skin softness stuff wound in. It is also a much more "contrasty" environment.
On the other hand it really isn't a good thing to judge a new show from a single show. They could have all sorts of tricks up their sleeves. If they have a jib and use it effectively, we could have all sorts of interesting studio interview and presenter walk and talk possibilities.

Video doesn't work

Tom, I'm normally one to support you but I have to say you're being overly defensive because it's Sky. Yes there's a lot of crap being said and there probably is plenty morons on here who take the Sky = Murdoch = Fox = not BBC OMG MUST BE DESTROYED view of the world and there are as many morons in general to match.

However the judging on the first show would occur for any BBC/ITN news show too. There are also changes that occur after the first real show (for example the Midlands Today headline sting thing on the first day from the mailbox or the original split screen on BBC News in 1999 before they used the plasma). so the first show does have to be commented on.

Now thinking back, although I earlier wrote that the news was "excellent". Don't know why I did as I actually considered tonight's agenda to be a bit rubbish, but it's a launch show and launch shows always have gimmicky things. Give it time, it's new. As the show and the news on it evolves so will the opinion's of people on here who are in that select group with brains.


Now, back onto presentation:
The balcony, as has been said, appears to be for show.
http://www.fatsky.co.uk/blah/five.jpg
She's standing on the little bit below it.

Oh and regarding the stairs blocking the logo, I like it. It seems "natural" instead of everything being perfectly placed.

oh and by the way, the stairs don't go to the balcony. It's that ladder thing you're seeing.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/ohwhatanight/five19.JPG

Well, maybe I am being slightly biased, but I stand by what I've said... it isn't fair to come out with comments along the lines of ''I preferred ITN'' on the basis of having watched 30 minutes of news, in the same way that it wouldn't be fair to come out and say ''wow, this five news is excellent, and the best news service on TV after the relaunch''.

So far all I've heard from ITN defenders are comments like ''they had the five news club, which was more original'' -- more like ''gimmicky'' -- and how the old ITN team made people more comfortable. Well, we've not even seen half of the new team, so I'm confused as to how people can come out with things like that.

I did think the first report was a bit 'Tonight'-esq, and quite ironic that it focussed on just one Briton, considering Nick Pollard of Sky said earlier in the week that it couldn't be justified to say '120,000 dead and X amount of Britons', because a British life is as valuable as any other. I also thought the Polish dentists thing was a bit too feature-y for a 30 minute show... but as I've also said, it's par for the course on a launch night.

I agree totally it has to be commented on from first night impressions, but it's not fair to come out with sweeping statements about it being great/rubbish based on what we've seen so far.

Especially a launch night on a bank holiday Monday, which in itself is unusual.

[I realise that doesn't make sense, but you know what I mean]

Yep - and the current news situation makes it very difficult to get a balanced view, dominated as it is by a single story.

Not entirely sure that the lead story worked - but it was an attempt to be different. Hope it isn't a sign that all stories are going to be covered in a "people-led" kind of way though - I doubt it is.

Two reasons. Firstly the "urgh sky = mrudoch, do excuse me, I need to wank over the N24 countdown" crew will come out with any old 5hite.

Secondly, and more importantly I think there is a "new boy" fear of Sky News making something for "real TV" which had always had a BBC/ITN duopoly (is that a word, it is now) and there is a lot of feeling towards the old ITN that produced the proper news for ITV.

However it must be remembered (and this is aimed at the defenders of ITN) that this is the company that is now dominated by ITV PLC, pours most of it's resources into it and making (90% of the time) not very good news for it. As the Guardian article that was linked to earlier said, five was denied access to resources before ITV had used them and were always given the hand-me-down equipment.

ITN is, most of the time, ITV's News Division. Yes it's been excellent these last few days but think about the bilge that normally goes out on the ITVNC like the appaulingly tacky "we were first with blunckett's resignation" trailer. They're not who they were when they launched five news 7 years ago.

Don't know if any videos have been posted - again I had to be out for most of the day but I set up an automatic recording, and here it is...

Opening


Coming up


Back from break


Sport


Ending

I just noticed the main report from five news tonight (about the search for the body of that woman) is airing on Sky News now.
Was it specifically produced for either, then?

Ugghh - the music is horrible.

I would have expected something far better from Sky.

On the camera move coming out of the break, the move ends on a jolt for some reason...

I like the music, the set, and the graphics. However, noggin mentioned this earlier, but the framing on the close-up on Kirsty is just not right...

Also, when it comes to breaking into regular Five programming ie) a huge major event like 9/11 and such, is Five just going to simulcast Sky News and have Kirsty anchor along with whoever on Sky? Or will there be parallel coverage of the event?